The Clove Tree That Defied An Empire

In A Nutshell

In the 1600s, the Dutch United East India Company controlled the Indonesian spice trade. All clove trees that didn’t belong to them were destroyed, with only 800–1,000 tons of cloves allowed out each year, giving them a monopoly on clove prices. However, one free tree remained. A Frenchman stole some seeds from it and took them to other countries, taking away the company’s monopoly on the trade.

The Whole Bushel

The Dutch United East India Company (abbreviated “VOC” for the Dutch title) was founded in 1602 and soon forced the Portuguese out of the Southeast Asian region they were competing for. Clove trees only used to grow on two islands in modern-day Indonesia: Ternate and Tidore. They remained a closely guarded secret until the Portuguese and the Dutch arrived in the region. In 1667, the VOC gained complete control over the clove trade with the capture of the last harbor where non-Dutch-owned cloves could be purchased.

Beginning in 1652, the VOC introduced a policy of extirpate. Any clove trees that weren’t owned by the company were uprooted and destroyed by fire. Consequently, the company made huge profits with their control on the clove trade (among other spices) and to conserve this, punishments were harsh for those who defied them. The death penalty was handed out to anyone caught with a clove tree or seeds. All clove exports were limited—only 800–1,000 tons were allowed out of their control with the rest of the harvest being dumped in the sea.

But one tree defied the iron grip of the Dutch. Known as Afo, growing on the slopes of the Gamalama volcano on the island of Ternate. Somehow, Afo survived the policy of extirpate and was found by a French missionary turned entrepreneur who took some of Afo’s seeds in 1770. The seeds were taken to the Seychelles and Zanzibar (currently the world’s largest clove producer), thus ending the VOC’s trade monopoly.

Afo is estimated to be over 400 years old and still stands today, albeit a shadow of its former self, protected by a brick wall from locals who once tried to use it as firewood.

The thought of monopolies has always intrigued me, and so has the VOC. Interesting fact about that, at its height the VOC had a private military which single-handedly started a war against the Portuguese.

Hillyard

Companies like the VOC and the East India Company seemed to have evolved into commercial extensions of their respective governments, ruling large portions of the lands they took over with their private militaries. It makes me wonder what Standard Oil or US Steel would have done given the same opportunities and government backing.

Exiled Phoenix

Look up blackwater roots and ties to halliburton.

Hillyard

Interesting. It’s good to know that the tree still exists.

TheMadHatter

TL/DR So a barking mad Frenchman steals seeds from this huge company with a monopoly on spice trees. Then it is leafed alone for over tree-hundred years.

Clyde Barrow

Interesting article. It even brought back ancient memories of smoking clove cigarettes during high school passing periods…